tate of the British 
 Authority in Bengal under the 
 Government of . stings, Ex- 
 emplified in the Principles 
 and Conduct of the T' T arhatt f
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFOR> 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 A 
 STATE 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 BRITISH AUTHORITY IN BENGAL 
 
 UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF 
 
 MR. HASTINGS, 
 
 EXEMPLIFIED IN THE PRINCIPLES 
 AND CONDUCT OF 
 
 THE MARHATTA WAR, 
 
 AND HIS 
 
 NEGOCIATIONS 
 
 WITH 
 
 MOODAJEE BOOSLA, 
 
 RAJAH of BERAR. 
 From authentic Documents. 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed by H. S. WOODFALL: 
 Sold by R. BALDWIN, Paternofter-Row. 
 MDCCLXXXI.
 
 
 .-;;.
 
 IDS 
 
 473, 
 
 TO THE 
 COURT OF DIRECTORS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EAST INDIA COMPANY. 
 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 THE following papers, as far as 
 they lay claim to YOUR attention, 
 tfhould rather ferve to remind, than to in- 
 form. I am perfuaded that your ineftim- 
 ^5 a le archives are confulted by you, with- 
 out remiffion : and doubtlefs, the lights, 
 which are there only to be obtained, 
 alone decide your judgment and your con- 
 <\ duel: in all interefts of the Company. It 
 ^ is to be lamented, that all accefs to this 
 great fource of information fliould be 
 
 rigoroufly refuted to the Public. The 
 
 g 
 
 tcaufe of truth and juftice can rarely 
 profit by concealment. It is the natural 
 tendency, and, too often, the infamous 
 A 2 purpofe, 
 
 ^.IRrtK
 
 purpofe, of that dark myfterious policy 
 which muns examination, to perpetuate 
 error, to render abufes inveterate, and to 
 flicker crimes. 
 
 Impreffed with thefe fentirnents, I mall 
 make no apology for bringing forward 
 to Public notice the character of the 
 Government of Bengal, under the admi- 
 niftration of Mr. HASTINGS. I have 
 not hefitated to mew, in one ftriking in- 
 ftance of internal arrangement *, that the 
 contempt with which this Gentleman 
 has uniformly received the commands of 
 the Court of Dire&ors, is fyftematical, 
 and that He bids defiance to his matters 
 upon Principle. I fhall now venture to 
 produce him on the fcene in his career of 
 Conqueftj and mail prove that, in Peace 
 and. Wai;, he is equally your Servant; 
 that he has the fame Maxims for the 
 
 , * See a State of the Britifh Authority in Bengal. 
 
 Field
 
 Field and for the Cabinet, and that He 
 is alike happy in bearing away the Palm >/ 
 of civil and military Difobedience. To 
 compleat the Monument of this Gentle- 
 man's political fame, it will be a pleaf- 
 ing labour, to (hew that the fame gene- 
 rous difdain of his Superiors has accom- 
 panied him through all the Manoeuvres 
 of his Syftem of finance -, to difplay bis 
 Skill in improving, his Tendernefs in fof- 
 tering, his Prudence in difpenfing, the 
 Treafure of the Provinces of whofe Wel- 
 fare he is appointed the Tutelary Guar- 
 dian. 
 
 I am aware that, to the common Rea- 
 der, thefe fuggeftions may appear unfair, 
 and thefe Imputations cruel. But YOU, 
 Gentlemen, will not refufe to bear tefti- 
 'mony to my Candour. The Court of 
 Directors have long been acquainted with 
 the true complexion of this Governor's 
 Principles. In the Company's General 
 
 letter
 
 letter to Bengal, dated the ,23d of De- 
 cember 1778, his conduct in various in- 
 frances, is qualified by the Epithets, 
 "INDECENT, PRESUMPTUOUS, 
 UNWARRANTABLE, ILLEGAL," and 
 in the letter from the Court of Directors 
 to Bengal, dated the i4th of May 1779, 
 the Expedition which makes the fubjed: of 
 the following meets, is treated as a direcl: 
 Violation of PRUDENCE, POLICY, and 
 GOOD FAITH. 
 
 If now it mould be afked, by fome 
 fimple Obferver of human Actions, upon 
 what Principles we are to explain this 
 ftrange, but continued, feries of reproach 
 and confidence, of cenfure and reward, I 
 muft own I mould unwillingly attempt 
 the folution of fo unnatural a phenome- 
 non. The Abbe Raynal, fpeaking of the 
 Decline of the Dutch Eafl India Com- 
 pany, and accounting for it, cites the fol- 
 lowing remarkable circumfiance. " The 
 
 " contempt
 
 <{ contempt of decency was pufhed fo far, 
 " that a Governor General finding himfelf 
 " convicted of having pillaged the Trea- 
 " fury to an enormous excefs, was not 
 " afraid to juflify his conduct, by pro- 
 " ducing a full Power figned by the Ma- 
 '* nagers of the Company at home." You 
 have now a favourable opportunity of 
 removing far from yourfelves the ignomi- 
 ny of the application; and of confoling the 
 Public, by the Refolutions You are about 
 to take, with the hope that the prefent 
 Court of Directors will neither be infen- 
 fible to their Duty or carelefs of their Ho- 
 nor. It mail be my Province, Gentlemen, 
 to fugged frefh objects for the Exercife of 
 your Political Wifdom and Patriotic Virtue. 
 
 THE EDITOR.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 A T is thought needlefs to make 
 any Apology for the Form in which 
 thefe Documents are given to the 
 Public, Perfons converfant in India 
 Affairs will even draw a Proof of 
 their Authenticity from their prefent 
 Arrangement. 
 
 %* A printed copy of thefe Documents was 
 fent to each Member of the Court of Directors 
 on Tuefday the 2d Inftant, a day appointed by 
 them for enquiring into the fubject to which 
 they relate. In the prefent edition a fmall altera- 
 tion is made in the arrangement of the Extracts 
 from Confultations, for the purpofe of rendering 
 them more intelligible to the common reader. 
 There is no change in the Matter or Facts. 
 Jan. 16, 1781. 
 
 A STATE
 
 A 
 STATE 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 BRITISH AUTHORITY IN BENGAL 
 
 V>l. r >'! ; .; ' '-; 
 
 tfNDER THE GOYEXBMXNT Of 
 
 MR. HASTINGS/ 
 
 THE abftrafls annexed will ferve for an in- 
 dex to the Confultations, and to point out 
 fuch pans of them as may deferve particular at- 
 tention, whenever it fhall be thought fit to make 
 formal and regular inquiry into the whole tranf- 
 action. The principles and conduct of the 
 meafure are minutely canvafled in the minutes 
 of the minority. It may be ufeful, however, 
 to collect into one view fome of the moil ftriking 
 circumftances belonging to both. 
 
 I. The original refolutions of the Governor 
 General and Council of the 2d of February, 
 1778, for fupporting Bombay, profefs to have 
 in view the reiteration of Ragoba, conformable 
 to the plan communicated in a letter from that 
 Prefidency of the 1 2th of December, 1777, but 
 in no mape to violate the treaty of Poona. In 
 their fubfequent letter of the 2Oth of January, 
 1778, they inform the Board that the overtures 
 B made
 
 made by the Minifterial Chiefs had produced no 
 effect, and that they bad immediately rcfcfoed thc.t 
 nothing could be done unlcfs Sucuram Baboo join- 
 ed in the application, which he never has done. 
 This Board, neverthelefs, perfift in fending the 
 Detachment acrofs India, but now take other 
 ground to juftify the meafure, viz. a fuppofed 
 connection between the French and the Poona 
 government. 
 
 .a 'o A ..i^i $$4 . 
 
 II. The principal proof of this connection, 
 repeatedly. urgecLand infifced on by Mr. Haft-- 
 ings, was, that the Marhattas had given the 
 po,rt of Choul, near Bombay, to the French; 
 Yet, notwithftanding the peremptory aflertions 
 fo often ufcd by the Governor on this fubject, 
 and notwithstanding Monfieur Bellecombe, fo 
 long ago as January laft, was faid to have gone 
 in pcribh to take poffeffion, the French, at 
 this hour, are not mailers of Choul, nor ever 
 likely to pofTefs it. In the fame fptrit, and for the 
 fame purpofe, the negociations of Monfieur St. 
 Lubin have been urged, and reprefented in the 
 moft formidable point of view. At this diftance 
 from England, a cloud of words is fufficient to 
 veil, diminifh, or magnify any object, to fuic 
 'the wifhes and defigns of men in power here. In 
 the prefent inflance, the Court of Directors 
 "will find lights enough in the Confultations of 
 'the Board, to mew them with what boldnefs and 
 'facility fads are fuppofed, difcoloured, and ex- 
 
 aggerated.,
 
 [ 3 
 
 aggerated, and the mod alarming, as well as 
 .chimerical confequences deduced from them. 
 They will judge whether Mr. Haftings, on his 
 own (late of facts, has taken meafures fuitable 
 to the occafion ; whether the march of an army 
 into the heart of Indoilan could, at. any time, 
 have had any other object but a union with 
 Moodajee Boofla ; and whether this object was 
 not carefully kept out of fight, till either the de* 
 tachment might be fo far advanced as not to be 
 able to uetreat with fafety, or till other circum- 
 ftances mould arife which might furnim preten- 
 ces for adopting a new fyitem, or rather for dif- 
 covering the true purpofe of the perfons who 
 planned the expedition. This obfervation kept 
 in view, will ferve for a leading clue through^' 
 all the windings of this extraordinary tranf- 
 action. 
 
 III. In the courfe of the proceedings it will 
 appear, that when the march of a reinforcement 
 to Bombay was refolved on, Mr. Francis con* 
 Handy urged that it ought to be fent from Ma- 
 dras by the way of Anjano, and replaced, if 
 necefiary, from Bengal ; and that the Prefidency 
 of Bombay recommended this mode, as the beft 
 and eafieft. In feveral of Mr. Haftings's mi- 
 nutes, particularly one of the i 2th of October, 
 the Court of Directors will fee how affectedly 
 this propofuion has been flighted, and H what fore 
 of arguments have been urged againft it, Mr< 
 flattings affirms, " that it did not even deferve 
 B 2 confideration j>
 
 [ 4 ] 
 
 " confideration ; and that, with fuperior dif- 
 " ficulties, and a dangerous navigation, the 
 c< march from Pondicherry would exceed that 
 " from Culpec in length by one third of the 
 " diftance." Yet the route by Anjango is well 
 known, and has been repeatedly ufed by detach- 
 ments to and from Bombay. The battalion of 
 Sepoys, which marched about February, 1774, 
 to join Colonel Keating, followed this route, 
 and arrived at Bombay without the lois of a 
 man ; and even the Governor General himfclf, 
 on the 2d of February, 17/8, propofed a letter 
 to the Prefidency of Fort St. George, in which 
 theearneft defire of this Government is exprelled, 
 that they mould order the detachment, applied 
 for by the Prefident and Council of Bombay, to 
 march immediately to their afiiftancs. 
 
 With this evidence before the Court of Direc- 
 tors of the facility of the route by Anjango, 
 and confidering that the ftrength of this detach- 
 ment, added to the Madras army, might with 
 cafe have fwept all the French fculements on 
 both coafts, and faved the greateft part of the 
 blood and treafure which Pondicherry has coft, 
 they are to judge what motives but that which 
 I have afligned could pofiibly have determined 
 Mr. Haftings to fend the detachment through 
 an immenfe unknown continent, in preference 
 to a route fo perfectly known, and conilantly 
 praftifed. 
 
 * IV. Th
 
 [ 5 ] 
 
 IV. The feafon in which the troops were to 
 march was as ftrenuoufly objected to by the 
 minority as the route. In reply to this objection, 
 the Court of Directors will fee with what perfe- 
 verance Mr. Raftings has maintained, that no 
 feafon could be more happily chofen than the 
 beginning of May : That the violent heats 
 would foon be over, and that the fucceeding 
 rains would be a relief to the troops, and facili- 
 tate the march. To thofe who have experienced 
 the rains of India, this idea will undoubtedly ap- 
 pear new and extraordinary. Colonel Leflie's 
 letters, particularly his private ones, will mew 
 that nothing in fact could be fo ill founded. 
 He uniformly attributes the delay of his march 
 to the torrents of rain which had overflowed the 
 country, deftroyed the roads, and made even 
 fmall rivers and nullas impaflfable : light troops, 
 without incumbrance, may perhaps move in 
 any feafon j but it is not eafy to convey a train 
 of artillery, with (lores, ammunition, camp- 
 equipage, and provifions for a body of people 
 not lefs than 36,000 in number, in a tempeftu- 
 ous feafon, and through a country interfected 
 with numberlefs ftreams, if not generally over- 
 flowed. 
 
 V. In the Confultation of the 12th of Octo- 
 ber, the Court of Directors will obferve what 
 violent cenfures are thrown upon the Prefidency 
 of Bombay, and how much pains are taken to 
 
 fix
 
 fix upon them the rcfponfibility of every mifcar- 
 riage that has happened, or that may happen 
 hereafter in the operations of the detachment. 
 " They have done nothing -, they have attempt- 
 " ed nothing , they have neither availed them- 
 ." felves, nor wifli to avail themfelves of events j 
 .*' they have no inftrument left, nor any inclina- 
 " tion to feek for one. In fhort, we are aban- 
 .* cloned by them, after all that we have done 
 for their relief." 
 
 The minority have no concern in the charges 
 now exhibited againft the Prefidency of Bom- 
 bay, nor does it belong to them to undertake 
 , their defence. Mr. Francis faw, and infifted on, 
 the weaknefs and unfteadinefs of their councils, 
 at a point of time, (22d June, 17; 8) when 
 more was in the power of the Board than barely 
 to lament the effefts of them. It refts with Mr. 
 Haftings to account for, and juftify, his con- 
 duit, in leaving the army, as he does, under the 
 guidance of a Council, on whofe prudence, flea- 
 dinefs, and activity, he at the fame moment pro- 
 fefles to place fo little dependence. 
 
 -T;V<> '-'iiiurr^'i}^ "ij. , ^ni. ifl-i!;- I ...;u fi'''// 
 VI. The Court of Directors will undoubt- 
 edly confider the enormous expcnce, as well as 
 all the other confequences .likely to attend this 
 meafure. The ftafti the fcores ; a train of ar- 
 tillery, and allowances and fupplies of all forts, 
 regulated folely by the commanding officer's 
 direction, and the whole charge of the detach- 
 ment
 
 [ 7 J 
 
 ment to be defrayed by remittances on this go- 
 vernment. In the beginning of Octocter, when' 
 Col. Goddard took the command, the military 
 cheft was empty j fo that at that time they muft; 
 have fpent twelve lacks, which were to have 
 carried them to Bombay, befides the advances 
 of fubfiftence which the feveral battalions muft 
 have received before they began their march. 
 What the total expence of the meafure will 
 amount to, or when it will end, can only be 
 the fubject of very alarming conjectures. It is 
 only in its infancy at prefent ; yet if, in addi- 
 tion to the direct charge of moving with fuch a 
 body of troops out of Bengal, a due proportion 
 of the augmentation here is carried to the fame 
 account as it ought to be, I prefume that 
 thirty lacks * will not much exceed the real e* 
 pence already incurred by the meafure. It is a 
 growing expence , fince every flep the detach- 
 ment takes from our frontier removes it fo much 
 the further from any poffible check or controul 
 over its difburfements. 
 
 VII. The private correfpondence carried on 
 between the Governor General and the com* 
 manding officer ought certainly to be an object 
 of confideration. It is very difficult and diftref- 
 
 * On the i ft of March, 1780, the detachment, together 
 ^vith the parties under Major Carnac and Captain Popham, 
 had coft the Company upwards of 82 lacks, independent of 
 remittances to Bombay. . ' . 
 
 firrg
 
 I 8 ] 
 
 fing to thofe members of the Council, who dif- 
 approve of fuch a proceeding, to exprefs their 
 difapprobation of it in terms that do not imply 
 perfonal diftruft of their Prefident. There is no 
 language in which a total want of confidence in 
 his perfonal honor and veracity can be con- 
 veyed without a direct affront to him. 
 
 Mr. Francis, in his minute of the i6th of 
 November, has objected to the continuance of 
 this correfpondence, in the moft guarded and 
 moderate terms ; but it was rather with a view 
 to exculpate himfelf, than with any hope of in- 
 fluencing Mr. Haftings's conduct. The prac- 
 tice is fo evidently wrong, and open to fo many 
 obvious ill confequences, that it requires no 
 flluftration. The Court of Directors are to 
 confider what fair and juftifiable purpofe it can 
 pofiibly anfwer. 
 
 By Colonel Leflie's private letters, which Mr. 
 Haftings was, in fome fort, compelled to lay 
 before the Board on the 22d of October, (tho* 
 not accompanied with his own, as they ought 
 to have been) it appears, that he pofiefled in- 
 formation, in many inftances, which ought to 
 have been communicated directly and imme- 
 diately to the Board. The letter of the 3oth of 
 July in particular, eftabliflies two very mate- 
 rial facts, i ft, That whereas Mr. Francis ap- 
 pears, on the face of the Confutations to cb- 
 
 ferve
 
 [ 9 ] 
 
 ferve Colonel Lcflie's conduct with attention, 
 and to cenfure ic with fome degree of feverity, 
 while Mr. Mailings conftamly fupports and de- 
 fends him ; it is ncverthelefs true, that at leaft 
 as early as the end of June, Mr. Haftings muft 
 have thought infinitely worfe of Col. Leflie's 
 character and conduct than even Mr. Francis, 
 v.'ho had no lights to guide him but the public 
 letters. 
 
 adly, That whereas Mr. Haftings about the 
 end of June, if not fooner, mud have con- 
 ceived the very worft opinion pofiible cf Col. 
 Leilie, he takes no ftcp to remove him from 
 the command till the i2th of October, when, 
 in all probability, he had heard of his death, 
 or at leaft that there was no chance of his reco- 
 very : fo that, on his own principles, he muft 
 have left the conduct of this moft important 
 enterprize in the hands of a man whom he does 
 not fcruple to accufe in the grofieft manner of 
 ignorance^ prefumption, and rapacity. In return 
 however, the Court of Directors will obferve, 
 th;:t Colonel Leflie exprefied no apprehenfion 
 of the Governor's refentment, or of any effects 
 it can produce ; but on the contrary, fets him 
 at defiance in plain terms, and refufcs to cor- 
 refpond with him any longer. 
 
 VIII. Suppofiiig it pOiTible that every objec- 
 tion to the meafure, on the fcore of prudence 
 or expediency, could be anfwered, or removed ; 
 
 c dt
 
 or that any degree of fuccefs fhould hereafter 
 furnifli an unexpected argument in its defence, 
 there is ftill another, and a moil important point 
 of view, in which it becomes the Company's 
 dignity and wifdom to confider it. 
 
 When Mr. Haftings engages the Company's 
 arms in offenfive wars without nectffity , when 
 he complicates their government in treaties and 
 alliances with the Indian powers, of which 
 war, acquifition, and conquefl are the fole ob- 
 ject ; when he fends their troops far away from 
 the defence of their territories ; when he difturbs 
 the peace of India j and when he avows his vain 
 ambitious purpofes fo far as to declare that, 
 " * Jf the Britifh arms and influence have fuf- 
 " fered a fevere check in the Weftern world, 
 " it is the more incumbent on thofe who are 
 " charged with the interests of Great-Britain 
 " in the Eaft, to exert themfelves for the re- 
 ** trieval of the national lofs ; that we have 
 " the means in our po\ver ; and that with fuch 
 *' fuperior advantages as we poflfefs over every 
 " power which can cppofe us, we jhould not 
 " aft merely on the defenfive ;" does he not 
 fubvert the fundamental principles of the Com- 
 pany's policy j does he not difobey their re- 
 peated and moft peremptory orders, and tranf- 
 grefs every line of limitation, which they had 
 prefcribed to their fervants for the adminiftra- 
 
 * Confultation, zzd June, 1778. 
 
 tion
 
 [ II ] 
 
 tion of their affairs ? If the affirmative fhould 
 appear true, the Court of Directors will un- 
 doubtedly recall to their remembrance the prin- 
 ciples on which the Rohilla war was unani- 
 moufly condemned by them, and how grofsly 
 their condemnation of that meafure has been 
 flighted. They will reflect on the nature and 
 extent of the truft repoied in them by the 
 Company, and by the nation j and ferioufly 
 consider on how precarious a foundation the 
 Britifh empire in India (lands ; when one daring 
 in-dividual can, at his pleafure, fubvert every 
 principle of their government, violate their 
 mod pofitive orders and folemn inftrudtions, 
 contemn their authority, and fet their power at 
 defiance. It will not, I truft, be too late for 
 them to weigh the difgraceful and dangerous 
 confequences of uniting conftant condemnation 
 with conftant impunity in the perfons of Mr. 
 Haftings and Mr. Harwell, and of continuing 
 two men in ftations of the higheft truft and 
 dignity,' whom, if we may rely on the opinion 
 they have repeatedly exprefled of their conduct 
 and character, they ought not to think worthy 
 of the loweft. 
 
 The motion of the 23d of November ap- 
 peared fome days after the preceding obfer- 
 vations were drawn up. In addition to the re- 
 marks made upon it in Mr. Francis's minute 
 of the fame day, the Court of Directors have 
 only to compare it with the language held by 
 C 2 Mr.
 
 [ I* ] 
 
 Mr. Haftings on the i2th of October, and the 
 indignation with which he pretended to refent 
 a fufpicion exprefied by Mr. Francis, that the 
 detachment was really never meant to proce d 
 to Bombay. 
 
 " If there are men in England fo devoid of 
 " common fenfe, as to fuppofe it pofllble for 
 <fc me to have formed a plan oflenfibly profefied 
 " for the affiftance of Bombay, but really 
 " meant as a cover for other defigns, let them ; 
 " whoever they be, or in whatever relation they 
 " may {land to this government, fuch opinions 
 " will give me no kind of concern." 
 
 In the latter part of this declaration, there is 
 certainly no reafon to queftion his fincerity. 
 The myflery is now unfolded, and all farther 
 concealment either ufelefs or impracticable. 
 The great original difficulty with Mr. Haftings 
 was, to find pretences for fo extraordinary and 
 queftionable a ftep, as that of fending an army 
 out of thefe provinces into the heart of India. 
 To remove it, no afiertions were fpared, no 
 artifice omitted, nofophiftry unemployed: That 
 point once carried, and the decifive act of crof- 
 fing the Jumna once done, the fcene changes.^ 
 New facts are aflerted, new principles eftablilhed, 
 and new objects propofed. The fame army 
 which originally was to have reinftated Ragoba, 
 and which, even fo late as the i/,th of October, 
 was flill profefiedly deftined to fupport that 
 
 intereft,
 
 [ '3 1 
 
 intereft, is now to place Moodajee Boofla at 
 the head of the Marhatta Empire, and to join 
 with him in an invafion of the Decan. At the 
 fame time the necefiity of providing for the 
 immediate fafety of Bombay againit a French 
 invafion, which on the mh of October was 
 urged, and infilled on as a reafon for leaving 
 the detachment under the command of that 
 Prefidency, is totally forgotten. Yet there is 
 no new fact of any kind before the Board to 
 warrant a fuppofition that this object is lefs 
 necefiary to be provided for at the prefent mo- 
 ment than it was on the 1 2th of October, wheit 
 Mr. Haftings declared, " That if it was ne- 
 " ceflary to flrengthen the Prefidency of Bom- 
 " bay when the firft idea of it was fuggeft- 
 " ed, it was much more fo now, when we have 
 " been told by the higheft Authority, that 
 " a powerful armament has been prepared in 
 " France, the firft object of which was an at- 
 " tack upon Bombay ; and when we know 
 " with moral certainty, that all the powers of 
 " the adjacent continent are read to join the 
 " invafion." 
 
 This ftate of facts, whether real or fuppofed, 
 remaining unaltered, the powers given to the 
 Prefidency of Bombay to call the detachment 
 to their affiftance are revoked, and the army 
 ordered to proceed to Berar, and to halt there. 
 Yet now we find, by the laft letter from Poona, 
 
 that
 
 [ 14 ] 
 
 that the Prefident and Council of Bombay, rely- 
 ing on the repeated promifes of affiftance given 
 them by this government, had taken their final 
 refolution to aft immediately againft the Mar- 
 hattas ; that is, in fupport of Ragoba's pre- 
 tenfions to the fovereign power of the Mar- 
 hatta (late. At the fame time, fuppofing Co- 
 lonel Goddard to have been able to penetrate 
 into Berar, and to have carried his inftruclions 
 into execution, the faith of the company will 
 have been engaged to Moodajee Boofla, to fup- 
 port his pretenfions to the fame object ; fo that 
 if no external impediment were to defeat the 
 operation of the oppofite principles on which 
 the two Prefidencies are now adting, it might 
 happen that one Englim army might meet an- 
 other in the field, and that the competitors 
 would have a right to infill upon the public 
 faith, feverally pledged to them, by the Com- 
 pany's reprefentatives, and to bring their refpec- 
 tive auxiliaries into action. To avoid this extre- 
 mity there can be no refource but treachery and 
 and breach of faith to one of the parties at leaft, 
 if not to both. 
 
 ABSTRACTS
 
 [ 15 ] 
 ABSTRACTS 
 
 FROM 
 
 CONSULTAT IONS. 
 
 Jan. 29, 1778. H^HE march of the detach- 
 JL ment under the command 
 of Colonel Leflie originated from a letter from 
 the Prefidency of Bombay, dated i2th of De- 
 cember, 1777, in which they give notice to the 
 Governor General and Council of an offer in- 
 directly made them, by fome members of the 
 Minifterial Party, to reinftate Ragoba, and of 
 their own determination to accept fuch offer, 
 whenever it mould be authenticated by a direct 
 engagement from the Minifters, and to march 
 with Ragoba to Poona. 
 
 On this day Mr. Francis entered a formal 
 proteft againft the proceedings of the Bombay 
 Prefidency. Mr. Haftings propofed a feries of 
 queftions on the fame fubjecl:, meaning that the 
 refolutions thereupon mould be the bafis of the 
 future meafures of the Board. The general 
 tendency of the queftions was to approve their 
 conduct:, and to promife them fupport. 
 
 id
 
 [ ,6 ] 
 
 2d February. Mr. Haflings's quefticns are 
 confidered, and carried by his calling voice. He 
 then propoied to take General Stibbert's cpinion 
 on the means of fending a reinforcement to 
 Bombay, and the propriety of augmenting the 
 Sepoy corps -, and concluded with a prefling 
 letter to Fort St. George, to induce them to for- 
 ward a reinforcement from thence ia)mediately 
 to Bombay. 
 
 9th February. Mr. Raftings informs the 
 Board, that he has private intelligence 'than 
 Monfieur Belleccmbe is gone to the Malabar 
 Coaft, with a view to take pofTeffion of Choul, a 
 port- town near Bombay, fuppofed to be ceded to 
 the French by the Marhattas. 
 
 23d. Read the Bombay letter of the 2Ct-h 
 of January, on which the Governor's motion 
 for fending them a reinforcement by the way of 
 Calpee appears to be founded. Mr. Francis and 
 Mr. Wheeler protefted in the tfrongeft terms 
 againft the refolutionof the majority, which fol- 
 lowed the motion. 
 
 March. On the receipt of the Com- 
 pany's orders of the 4th of July 1777, Mr. 
 Wheler and Mr. Francis joined in an addrefs to 
 the Governor, and urged the Board to counter- 
 mand the detachment, but without effect. 
 
 iSth.
 
 [ 17 J 
 
 1 8th. The majority fent orders and inftruc- 
 tions to the Prefidency of Bombay of the mod 
 violent and hoftile tendency to the Poona go- 
 vernment*, and equivalent in effect to a declara- 
 tion of war with the Marhattas. Mr. Francis 
 and Mr. Wheier entered their protefts, with 
 their reafons. 
 
 30th.f A regiment of cavalry, commanded 
 by Lieutenant Colonel Goddard, ordered to join 
 Lefiie's detachment. 
 
 6th April. The detachment ordered to 
 march, though letters from Bombay reprefent 
 every thing there in a ftate of tranquillity. No 
 motion whatever yet made in favour of Ragoba, 
 nor any effect or confequence from the pre- 
 tended overtures on the part of the Minifters, 
 mentioned in their letter of the 1 2th December, 
 J 777- 
 
 i ith May. A letter from Bombay of the 5th 
 of April, having advifed the Board of a re- 
 volution at Poona, by which Ragoba is faid to 
 be re-eftablimed, Mr. Francis moved, that the 
 march of the detachment mould be fufpended, 
 as no longer neceffary. The majority perfift. 
 
 * Vide Confultationi 2 3d March. 
 f Military Confutations z;th March, 
 
 1 6th;
 
 [ Ig ] 
 
 i6th. * Mr. Francis again prefled the recall 
 of the detachment, and continued the debate, 
 but to no purpofe. (ipth.) Mr. Haftings con- 
 ftantly affirms that the rainy feafon is favour- 
 able to the march of the troops, 
 
 8th June. Mr. Francis again urged the re- 
 call of the detachment, on account of the oppo- 
 fition given to Leflieon croffing the Jumna, and 
 the future difficulties he would probably meet 
 with. Mr. Haftings in reply declared his unal- 
 ' terable determination to projecute the meafure to the 
 utmoft of bis power to its condufion. 
 
 nth June. Letter from Bombay, dated 2d 
 May, to inform the Board, that they have fent an 
 order to JLeflie not to advance any further until he 
 may again hear from them. This ftep is faid to 
 be founded " on the opinion they have formed 
 " on the prefent ftate of affairs, and their defire 
 " to fave the Company from the heavy ex- 
 * pence, and their troops from the dangers and 
 " difficulties of a march from our provinces to 
 " that fide of India." 
 
 2 1 ft. Letter from Bombay of the 9th of 
 May, to inform the Board that they had re- 
 verfed the preceding refolution within two days 
 after it was taken, and ordered the detachment 
 
 * Vide Confultations 21 ft May. 
 
 to
 
 [ 19 3 
 
 to proceed ; but no reafon is affigned for this 
 alteration. 
 
 22d. Confidering this extraordinary fluctua- 
 tion in the councils of that Prefidency, and 
 that no motives whatfoever were affigned for it, 
 Mr. Francis reprefented to the Board the hazard 
 and difcredit of leaving the detachment at the 
 difcretion of fuch councils, and on that ground 
 again urged the neceffity of recalling it; but in 
 vain. 
 
 29th June. Received a letter, dated 20th 
 May, from Bombay, defiring, that for the fu- 
 ture, any reinforcement to be fent them might 
 proceed direftly from Madras^ as the beft and 
 eafieft mode. It will appear hereafter, that about 
 this time Mr. Haftings had intirely altered the 
 extraordinary opinion he had hitherto pofiefied 
 of Colonel LeQie's merit and qualifications. 
 
 6th July. On this day Mr. Haftings made 
 his firit direct move towards the object, which 
 he fince appears to have had originally at heart, 
 of an alliance with Moodajee Boofla, and which 
 I think will appear to have been the real object 
 of this expedition. Colonel Leflie is now or- 
 dered to take his route through Berar, inftead 
 of the ftrait road through Malva, the Chief of 
 which, Modajee Sindy, is now, for the firft time, 
 known " to have had no connexion with this 
 Da " government,
 
 [ 20 ] 
 
 c< government, and to have. always been repre- 
 " fented as a partizan of Naria Furnefe." 
 
 7th. Advices received this day from Cairo 
 of a war in Europe. The majority determine 
 that the detachment mail halt in Berar. 
 
 pth July. When the Board expected from 
 the Governor General a plan for the defence of 
 Bengal againft a French invafion, he produced, 
 inftead of it, a laboured hiftory of the Ram 
 Raja, the Conftitution of the Marhatta Em- 
 pire, and Moodajee Boofla's rights or preten- 
 fions to the fovereignty -, and concluded with 
 recommending that a Treaty of Alliance Ihould 
 be formed with Moodajee Boofla, and that a 
 Company's Servant mould be immediately de- 
 puted to him with full powers for that pur- 
 pofe. 
 
 loth. Mr. Wheler and Mr. Francis warmly 
 oppofed the meafure, and urged the neceffity of 
 putting Bengal in a ftate of defence, recalling 
 the detachment, and fending a reinforcement 
 from Madras to Bombay, to aft folely on a de- 
 fenfive plan. 
 
 nth. Treaty of Alliance refolved on by the 
 majority, but the plan of it not produced Mr, 
 Elliott appointed to conduct if, 
 
 i8th.
 
 [ * ] 
 
 1 8th. Mr. Elliott's inftructions produced 
 this day, and voted, notwithftanding the ftrong- 
 eft oppofuion that could be given to the meafure 
 by Mr. Francis and Mr. Wheler. It appears 
 that Jlagoba was to be laid afide, and Moodajee 
 BooQa placed at the head of the Marhatta Em- 
 pire, and fupported in his pretenfions againftthe 
 Subah of the Decan. This fcheme of opera- 
 tions is recommended by the Governor General* 
 at the opening of a French war. During all 
 this time the detachment halted at Chatterpour* 
 a few days march from the Jumna. It appears 
 by Colonel Leflie's private letters, that Mr. 
 Haftings muft have been perfectly acquainted 
 with his tranfactions, yet at the Board he con- 
 ftantly defends him, and even recommends ap- 
 proving the attack of Mo\v, though be could 
 not be unacquainted with the true motives of 
 that barbarous meafure. 
 
 1 7th Auguft. Received a letter from Bom- 
 bay, dated 25th July, faying thac they had de- 
 clared the Treaty of Poona violated, and no 
 longer binding on the part of the Company. 
 That they had determined to accept the offers 
 of Moraba, and other Chiefs who had declared 
 in favour of Ragoba, and to march with him 
 to Poona in the beginning of September. Mr_ 
 Haftings, notwithftanding his projected Treaty 
 with Moodajee Boofla, approves their plan for 
 reinftating Ragoba, yet reprcients his caufe as 
 
 defperate,
 
 t M ] 
 
 defperate, and the conduct of the Prefidency of 
 Bombay as equivalent to a refolution to do nothing: 
 that is, he fupports their meafures, though 
 againft his belief of their taking effect. By let- 
 ters from Colonel Leflie, it appears that the 
 Prefidency of Bombay have directed him to 
 alter his route ; that is, not to proceed through 
 Guzerat to Broach, or Surat, but to proceed 
 more foutherly towards Poona. 
 
 gift Auguft. Some reflections having been 
 made by Mr. Francis on Colonel Leflie's extra- 
 ordinary delay at Chatterpour, the Board agreed 
 with him, that the caufes of it deferved to be 
 inquired into. 
 
 2d September. In the courfe of a warm de- 
 bate on Colonel Leflie's continuance at Chatter- 
 pour, Mr. Haftings uniformly defends and fup- 
 ports him, and with much apparent confidence 
 in Colonel Leflie's conduct, refers to the event 
 to juftify it. 
 
 5th October. From the 2d of September to 
 this day, the Board had no material advices 
 from Colonel Leflie. He had altered the pofi- 
 tion of his camp, but it did not appear that he 
 had any ferious intention to continue his march. 
 Mr. Francis urged that his conduct mould be 
 inquired into, but Mr. Haftings requefted that 
 the inquiry might be deferred. On receipt of 
 
 the
 
 the news of Mr. Elliot's death, Mr. Haftings 
 moved that the commiffion mould be continued, 
 and another perfon appointed to carry it into 
 execution. 
 
 '.,.- 
 
 7th October. This laft motion withdrawn by 
 
 the Governor, who per fills in his project of an 
 alliance with Moodajee Boofla, but now declares 
 that it is always more advantageous to wait for 
 felicitations than to make advances. The new 
 inftructions now propofed for the march of the 
 detachment will be found to deferve the parti- 
 cular attention of the Court of Directors. In 
 this place it is fufficient to remark, that they 
 leave the army under the orders of the Prefidency 
 of Bombay for two exprefs purpofes, viz. to 
 fupport any plan or defign for the reiteration of 
 Ragoba, or to provide for the immediate fafety 
 of Bombay againfl a French invafion. At this 
 debate the majority, for the firfl time, dif- 
 covered a diftruft of Colonel Leflie, with fome 
 indirect profeflions of an intention to remove 
 him. 
 
 1 2th Oct. But, till this day, no refolution 
 was taken to remove him from the command. 
 The Governor now informs the Board, that it 
 had been the will of God to blaft his dejigns by 
 means which no human prudence could have for efeen> 
 and againft which therefore he had provided no re- 
 fource. Yet he affirms, <c that the effects of the 
 
 " detachment
 
 " detachment will ftill anfwer his moft fanguine 
 " hopes, and that the meafure itfelf is a? ad- 
 " viiable now, and more fo a than when it was 
 " firft adopted." 
 
 1 9th Oft. The laft letter written by Colonel 
 Lcflie, who died on the 3d of October, ftates 
 fully the caufes which have retarded his march, 
 and accounts for his not having been hitherto 
 more explicit in his communication to the Board, 
 by faying, that " he had afforded Mr. Haftings, 
 " at his own defire, a particular journal of oc- 
 " currences, and trufted to him for fuch expla- 
 " nation as the Board might defire to know." 
 
 22d. Mr. Haftings lays Colonel Leflie's pri- 
 vate letters before the Board ; that dated the 3oth 
 of July deferves the moft particular attention. 
 
 26th. A letter from Bombay of the i ith of 
 September fays, " that they have not taken any 
 " meafures in profecution of the plan communi- 
 " cated in their letter of the 25th of July, but 
 " that they fliall now very fpeedily come to 
 *' fome decifive refolutions, and advife the Board 
 " immediately of the refult." 
 
 2d November. * Colonel Goddard proceeds 
 on his march to Sagur j finds the military cheft 
 
 * Confuhations ad November. 
 
 empty,
 
 r *5 3 
 
 empty, and draws bills on the treafury for the 
 fubfiftence of the detachment. 
 
 1 2th. The Governor propofes an arrange- 
 ment for fupplying the detachment with money, 
 by remittances to Naugpore, the capital of Be- 
 rar. If it be not intended that the army fhould 
 halt in that country, the meafure is abfurd ; for 
 fuppofmg their march to Bombay to be conti- 
 nued without interruption, they ought to arrive 
 there before a remittance, now made from 
 hence, can reach them. But the propofition 
 fuppofes them to want money, and to receive it 
 more than two months hence at leaft, at a place 
 a thoufand miles diftant from the profefTed place 
 of their deftination. 
 
 i6th. A private letter from Colonel God- 
 dard of the 22d of October, to Mr. Haftings, 
 with others from Moodajee Boofla, and his 
 Ministers, laid before the Board. The Gover- 
 nor propofes to renew the negotiation with Moo- 
 dajee Boofla, on the principles of Mr. Elliott's 
 instructions, and to commit the conduct of it to 
 Colonel Goddard, with full powers to conclude, 
 Mr. Francis and Mr. Wheler object to the pri- 
 vate correfpondence carried on between the Go. 
 vernor and the commanding officer of the Com- 
 pany's troops, and aflign their reafons at large 
 for diflenting from the motion. The refolution 
 carried of courfe.
 
 [ 26 ] 
 
 Igd November*. A motion fent in circula- 
 tion by the Governor, to revoke the powers de- 
 legated on the 1 5th of October to the Prefidency 
 of Bombay, of commanding the march of the 
 detachment. Mr. Francis and Mr. Wheler pro- 
 tcft againft the motion, as not only inconfiftent 
 with all the principles hitherto avowed, and 
 with the oftenfible objects hitherto propofed to 
 be accomplifhed by the expedition, but as not 
 correfponding with, or capable of being juftified 
 by the reafons affigned for it. 
 
 30th. A letter from Mr. Lewis at Poona, 
 dated 2yth October, containing the following 
 information : " By orders from Governor Horn- 
 u by, I have fent away all the Sepoys who came 
 * 6 with Mr. Moftyn, and am in hourly expecta- 
 " tion of being recalled myfelf, as the Governor 
 " writes me that the Select Committee have de- 
 " tcrmined on acting againft this Government." 
 
 2ift December, 1778. From the i5th of 
 November to this day, the Board received but 
 one letter from Colonel Goddard, dated the 5th 
 of November; by which it only appears, that 
 he was engaged in hoftilities with Balajee Pundit, 
 who harafied his march with five thoufand Mar- 
 hatta horfe. 
 
 On the sift of December Mr. Haftings 
 laid before the Board a private letter of the 
 
 * Vide Confulutions ;th Dec. 
 
 i6th
 
 [ 27 ] 
 
 1 6th of November, from Colonel Goddard to 
 himfelf; he was then at Burfea, 25 Cofs from 
 the Narbudda ; his march (till interrupted, and 
 his fupplies cut off by Balajee Pundit. He 
 had received friendly letters from Moodajee 
 Boofla, but obferves, " That it was plain he 
 ** would rather fome agreement had been en- 
 " tered into before the arrival of the arrny in 
 *' his territory.'* 
 
 On the fame day Mr. Haftings produced a 
 copy of a letter from Moodajee Boofla to Co- 
 lonel Goddard, dated the 2gd of November, 
 which had been forwarded by Mr. Anderfon, 
 directly from Nagpour to Calcutta. The 
 contents of this letter are of the utmoft im- 
 portance : He lays before Colonel Goddard, in 
 the ftrongeft colours, a detail of the prepara- 
 tions making by the Poona government to op- 
 pofe his march, and of the dangers and diffi- 
 culties which he muft expect to meet with. 
 He declines joining him with a body of his 
 troops, obferving, " That it could produce 
 " no good effecl:, but would remove the veil 
 " from the bufmefs, and leave their defigns 
 " expofed ; that it would deftroy the friend- 
 " fnip eftabUJhed between him and the Peijhwa, 
 " and JSizam id Dowla, and expofe his domi- 
 " nions to the ravages of the armies of the 
 " Decan in Berar and at the Gauts." Fi- 
 nally, he advifes Colonel Goddard to write all 
 thefe particulars to Calcutta, and wait for or- 
 E 2 ders
 
 [ 28 ] 
 
 dcrs from thence , and, till their arrival, con- 
 tinue on the banks of the Nerbudda. In the 
 mean time he recommends it to him, to write 
 an amicable letter to the Peifhwa, to defire a 
 fafe paflage through his dominions to Bombay, 
 with affurances that the march of the detach- 
 ment had no other objecl: than to flrengthen 
 that place againft the defigns of the French. 
 
 Mr. Haftings, after producing this letter, in- 
 formed the Board that Moodajee Boofla had 
 been at the point of death, and added in dif- 
 courfe, that he was not the real Raja of Berar, 
 but only deputy to his fon. 
 
 Mr. Francis, finding that all this important 
 intelligence was not followed by any motion 
 from the Governor, propofed two queftions to 
 the Board ; Firft ; " That it appeared that 
 " Moodajee Boofla was not inclined to join 
 " Colonel Goddard; Secondly ; " That it 
 <c was his, Moodajee Boofla's, opinion, that the 
 " continuance of his march would be attended 
 " with the greatefl; difficulties and dangers." 
 The object of thefe queftions, if they had not 
 been refolved in the negative, was to eftablilh 
 the affirmative, as a ground for recalling the 
 detachment, or fending it alcng the Nerbudda 
 to Broach. 
 
 Ey Moodajee Boofla's letter it appears, that 
 on the 23d of November, he had no idea of 
 
 breaking
 
 breaking with the Poona Government ; that he 
 was alarmed for the fafety of his own country, 
 and very unwilling to join Colonel Goddard, or 
 to fuffer him to come into it. He fpeaks the 
 language of a man of fenfe ; but his letter dif- 
 covers no appearance * of that approved bravery 
 and fpirit on which Mr. Haftings profefles to 
 reft his hopes, -f- that he will ardently catch at the 
 objetts presented to his ambition. And though it 
 be ftrictly true, as Mr. Haftings himfelf fays in 
 his letter of the 23d November to the Raja's 
 prime minifler, " That in the whole of his conduct 
 " be, Mr. Haftings, has departed from the com- 
 " mon line of policy, and has made advances where 
 " others in his Jituation would have waited for fo- 
 " licit ation" it does not appear that all his 
 advances have produced any favourable impref- 
 fion on the mind of Moodajee Boofla ; at leaft 
 they have hitherto had no material influence 
 upon his conduct. v -^ 
 
 If, after all, this man be not the real Raja of 
 Berar, it remains to be confidered whether the 
 ftate of Berar can be bound by any ad of his, 
 or whether the alliance, offenfive and defenfive, 
 which Colonel Goddard is directed to form with 
 him in the terms of Elliott's inftructions, can be 
 concluded with fafety or honour to this go- 
 vernment, when it is allowed that one of the 
 
 * Vide his letter to Dewagur Punditt, 23d Nov. 1778. 
 
 f Ditto. 
 
 contracting
 
 so 3 
 
 contracting parties has no right, in his own per- 
 fon, to conclude fuch an alliance. 
 
 28th Dec. 1778. TheGovcrnor moves, that 
 two battalions may be ordered immediately from 
 the barracks near Calcutta, under the command 
 of Major Camac, to reinforce Colonel Goddard, 
 in order to fnpply all lofles which the detach- 
 ment may have iuffered by Colonel Leflie's de- 
 lays, and by the length of their march. They 
 are to proceed to the weftern frontier of Pala- 
 mow, and there wait the directions of Goddard, 
 either for a junction with him for the protection 
 of Nagpour, or topreferve the communication 
 with thefe provinces. 
 
 Before the queftion was put, Mr. Francis de- 
 fired to fee the returns of the detachment, that 
 the Board might know what lofs it had really 
 fuffered, and on what grounds the reinforcement 
 was propofed. No returns, no letters, nor 
 explanation of any kind, were produced. Mr. 
 Barwell exprefsly declared, " That there was no 
 " indifpenlible neceflity to influence the propo- 
 " fition; and that, if he was to form his opinion 
 " fimply on the neceflity of the thing, he 
 " fliould certainly vote againft the march of the 
 ** troops." Mr. Haftings, under colour of an 
 objection urged by Mr. Francis to the private 
 correfpondence carried on between him and the 
 commanding officer, faid, that he had been 
 thereby dif cow aged from affording the Board, in 
 
 their
 
 [ 3 3 
 
 their collective capacity, tboje lights which, upon 
 many points, were neceffary for their information. 
 He then rambled into ftrictures upon a fuppofed 
 inconfiftency in Mr. Francis's conduct, in laying 
 an extract of a private letter before the Board 
 in June laft, yet objecting to the authority of 
 private letters from the commanding officer 
 to the firft and executive member of the Go- 
 vernment, and protefting againft their private 
 correfpondence. The Minutes will fhew, in 
 what manner thefe reflections were anfwered. - 
 In this place however, it may be proper to ob- 
 ferve, that Mr. Haftings, notwithftanding all 
 his public declarations to the contrary, muft 
 have given credit to the extract above-men- 
 tioned ; fince Colonel Leflie, in his private letter 
 of the 3Oth July, reproaches him with the more 
 than negative belief, exprefied in one of his own 
 letters, of the pojjibility of fome accidental error 
 having happened on the firft day's march from Ca!pee 9 
 and anfwered a queftion put to him by the Go- 
 vernor's order, which would have been an abfur- 
 dity in terms, if Mr. Haftings did not believe the 
 fact, viz. why -the firft dafs march was fo 
 fatal? 
 
 Other obfervations, of much greater confe- 
 quence, occur upon the proceedings of this 
 day. A reinforcement is ordered, upon a fim- 
 ple prefumption, that the detachment has fuf- 
 fercd a considerable lofs. No return or letters 
 
 are
 
 arc produced to prove it, and all lights avow- 
 edly withheld from the Board. Mr. Harwell, 
 at the fame time, denies the neceffity of the 
 meafure ; and Mr. Haftings himfelf, in the 
 courfe of the debate, affirms, " that the lofs of 
 " men bears no degree of proportion to the 
 " reinforcement, and has in effect been incon- 
 " fiderable." The purpofe of this reinforce- 
 ment muft therefore be, to provide for the pro- 
 tection of Nagpour, or, as Mr. BarweJN ex- 
 prefTes it, to give that fecurity to the dominions of 
 the Berar Chief as to difyel every apprebenjion be 
 may entertain of the boftilities with which he may 
 le threatened. From thefe explanations it is to 
 be underftood, that the Raja of Berar, who, 
 with the afliftance of the detachment, was to 
 overfet the Marhatta ftate, and to invade the 
 Decan, wants two battalions of our Sepoys for 
 the protection of his own capital, and the fecu- 
 rity of his dominions. There is, however, no 
 reafon yet to believe, that this Raja is at all di 
 pofed to avail himfelf of our afliftance. On 
 this day the Board does not know whether Col, 
 Goddard has crofied the Nerbudda or not. 
 
 goth Dec. 1778. The Governor moves, that 
 feven hundred draughts may be fent with Ma- 
 jor Camac to recruit Colonel Godd*rd's army, 
 and that they mould march without arms or am- 
 munition. However, he was afterwards obliged 
 to yield to the remonftrances of Mr. Whcler 
 
 and
 
 C 33 1 
 
 and Mr. Francis on this point, and let the re- 
 cruits march vvirh their arms, and to move that 
 Camac might have two field pieces. 
 
 4th January, 1779. The Governor informs 
 the Board, from a private letter of Colonel 
 Goddard, dated 3oth of November, that he 
 was arrived at the banks of the Nerbudda, after 
 a fatiguing march, through difficult pafies in the 
 mountains, and that he then faw no impediment 
 to his crofling that river. 
 
 7-th January. A letter arrived from Colonel 
 Goddard of the 2d and 5th of December, in- 
 forms the Board that he had croffed the Nebud- 
 da, and was encamped on the fouthern banks 
 of that river, within the territory of Berar, 
 where he waited to be informed of the Rajah's 
 final refolutions. He fays, that all the artillery 
 and gun-carriages were much {battered, and in 
 want of repair -, but that the number of fick was 
 reduced from a thouiand to about four hundred. 
 Letters received from Moodajee Boofla, and 
 his minifters, of the 5th of December. Inftead 
 of joining Colonel Goddard, the Rajah gives 
 Mr. Haftings a great deal of good advice, both 
 moral and political, concerning the prefervation 
 of peace, fidelity to engagements, juftice, cle- 
 mency, &c. but in particular, he recommends 
 it to him to act with deliberation, and to pro- 
 portion his means to his end i obferving, u that 
 F ?' it
 
 " it is a proverb, that whatever is. deliberately 
 " done is well done." 
 
 On the whole it appears clearly by thefe let- 
 ters, that the Rajah never had an idea of the na- 
 ture or extent of Mr. Haftings's views, much lefs 
 of breaking with the Pefliwa and the Nizam, or 
 of entering into any engagements with this Go- 
 vernment that could lead him to a rupture with 
 cither of them. He vindicates the Peihwa from 
 the defigns imputed to him by the Board, of a 
 fecret connection with the French, and offers his 
 mediation. This may be confidered as a ftep 
 towards taking a direct part with his country- 
 men, if his mediation be not acquiefced in. At 
 all events he difclaimed every thought of act- 
 ing againft them. After enumerating the Chiefs 
 and their forces, who were prepared to oppofe 
 Colonel Goddard, he exprefsly fays, " The 
 " junction of a body of my forces with his 
 '* would avail nothing in the face of fuch large ar- 
 " mies, but would only involve me in the greateft 
 " loflfes; yet neither was it advifeable for him to 
 " return, which would diminifh the awe and 
 " refpect in which he was held." In the end 
 he fays, that " the times require that a concili- 
 " ation take place with the Poona minifters." 
 
 nth January. Mr, Francis, finding that the 
 Governor General obferved a profound filence 
 on the fubject of Moodajee BooQVs letters, and 
 that no inftructions whauoever were to be fent 
 
 to
 
 C 35 ] 
 
 to Colonel Goddard, after waiting till the coun- 
 cil held this day was on the point of breaking 
 pp, thought it necefiary to record a Minute, in 
 which his fentiments are ftated at large refpeft- 
 ing Modajee Boofla's conduct, and the critical 
 pofition of the detachment. In this Minute the 
 contents of the above letters are ftrictly can- 
 valTed, and a conclufion drawn from them, that 
 recalling the detachment would be the moft ad 
 vifeable ftep to be taken in a lituation which 
 admits of no one eligible refolution. To this. Mi- 
 nute the Governor declared he did not think it 
 neceflary or proper to reply. In a day or two 
 after the Board received the firft intelligence, by 
 way of Madras, of the motion of a detachment 
 from Bombay towards Poona, for the profefled 
 purpofe of reinftating 
 
 January 25th. Letters of the 3Oth of De- 
 cember, received from Moodajee Boofla, con- 
 firming in the moft explicit terms the declaration 
 he had made fome weeks before in his letters to 
 Colonel Goddard and to the Governor; ftill 
 urging the necefllcy of an accommodation with 
 the Poona government, and refufing to join the 
 Company's forces dgainft them. On this day 
 the Governor, notwithstanding his prcfefied refo- 
 lution not to anfwer Mr. Francis's Minute of 
 the nth inftant, quotes and reprobates the opi- 
 nion contained in it, in terms full of paffion and 
 contempt. Yet, with fo many ne,w and mate- 
 F 2 rial
 
 rial facts before him, with the certain knowledge 
 of Moodajce Boofla's final refolutions, and of 
 the meafures taken at Bombay, he himfelf pra- 
 pofes nothing, but leaves Colonel Goddard 
 without orders or inftructions of any kind. 
 
 28th January. Letters of the izth of De- 
 cember, received from Bombay, advifing the 
 Board that their forces, (amounting to 3410, 
 officers included) had actually taken the field, 
 to conduct Ragoba to Poona , that they had 
 come to this refolution on the i2th of Ociober; 
 that they had concluded a new treaty with 
 Ragoba ; that their lateft intelligence from Eu- 
 rope gave them not the fmalleft apprehenfion of 
 danger to Bombay in the abfence of their forces ; 
 that the whole conduct of their expedition was 
 intruded to a committee, confiding of MeflTrs. 
 Carnac, Egerton, andMoftyn; that whatever 
 turn affairs might take at Poona, they mould 
 certainly require a confiderable augmentation of 
 their force to defend the new acquifitions, and 
 to garrifon Bombay ; that Mr. Draper diflented 
 from the whole of the meafure ; and that Hyder 
 Ally continued to mew a difpofition very favour- 
 able to the French. They conclude with re- 
 quefting Government to commence immediately 
 fending them their annual fupply. In confe- 
 quence of the preceding advices, the Governor 
 promifed to lay fome proportions before th.e 
 Board in a few days. 
 
 Vide Confultations ift Feb. I ft
 
 [ 37 ] 
 
 id February. Letters of the 6th of January 
 received from Colonel Goddard. He was ftill 
 in the fame petition at Huflunabad, on the 
 banks of the Nerbudda, but propofed moving 
 in a few days towards Poona. From an accu- 
 rate map of the route, drawn by Mr. Smith, 
 who accompanied Colonel Upton, the diftance 
 between thefe two places appears to be about 
 470 F-nglilh miles. 
 
 By Colonel Goddard's laft letters it appears, 
 that after eroding the river, he had deputed 
 Lieutenant Weatherllone to Nagpour, in order 
 to prefs Moodajee Boofla to conclude the treaty, 
 and immediately to enter upon the execution of 
 it, but without the fmalleft fuccefs : that he 
 declined entering into a treaty, or taking any 
 active part whatever till further accounts might 
 arrive from Calcutta. To colour this refufal, 
 Moodajee Boofla pleads the part taken by the 
 Council of Bombay in favour of Ragoba : and 
 folicits, as well as recommends, the relinquifh- 
 ing the caufe of the latter, and accepting terms 
 from the prefent minifterial party. It fhould be 
 obferved, however, that Moodajee Boofla had 
 taken his refolution long oefore it was poflible 
 for him to have heard of the motions at Bom- 
 bay. His letter to Colonel Goddard of the 2$d 
 of November is written in nearly the fame terms 
 with thofe of the' goth of December to Mr. 
 Haftings \ but the army did not move from 
 Bombay before the 22d of November. It muft, 
 
 never-
 
 [ 38 ] 
 
 neverthelefs, be admitted, that the fupport given 
 to Ragoba would naturally confirm Moodajee 
 Booila in his firft refolution, confidering that, as 
 Colonel Goddard obferves, " an attention to, 
 " and obfervation of, the intereft of both 
 " would be an impracticable ta(k to this Go- 
 " vernment, and irreconcileable to themfelves ; 
 < c and that Moodajee Boofla's views are incom- 
 ** patible with the meafures now adopted in fa- 
 " vour of Ragoba." The Court of Directors 
 cannot fail of taking notice how often and how 
 exprefsly this event-was foretold by Mr. Francis. 
 Goddard fays, " that the fchemes of the gentle- 
 ce men at Bombay, and the active part they 
 " have taken in fupport of Ragoba, have de- 
 w ftroyed all hopes of concluding the propofed 
 " alliance with the Court of Nagpour, until it 
 < c may be judged expedient by this government 
 ' to direct the former to be relinquilhed, in or- 
 *' der to leave room for the entire and free adop- 
 " tion of the latter." 
 
 Whether this be a mere pretence or not, to 
 excufe his refufal to accede to the propofed alli- 
 ance, or whether he ever really formed the pro- 
 ject attributed to him of aflerting a claim to the 
 fupreme power of the Marhatta flatc, is much to 
 be queftioned. Colonel Goddard himfelf takes 
 notice of the inconfiftency of his labouring fo ftre- 
 nuoujly for the intereft of the Pejbwa^ with whom 
 he means foon to be engaged in boftilitifs^ and con- 
 
 fiders
 
 [ 39 ] 
 
 fiders his aiifwer to this objection as a refinement 
 upon policy, that might almoft lead one tofufpeft he 
 was not altogether feriouS) and determined upon his 
 Sittarab expedition. 
 
 By Mr. Weatherftone's letters to Colonel 
 Goddard it appears, that the Government of 
 Berar ** were determined not tq take any active 
 " part whatever with the Company's armies ; 
 *' that they had a thoufand arguments to oppofe 
 *' to thofe he urged in favour of the plan for 
 ** affuming the dignity of Rajah of Sitcarah, 
 c "particularly the faith pledged, and the alli- 
 " ance of friendflhip they had fworn with the 
 *' prefent Pemwa ; that their afTerting their pre- 
 w tenfions to the fovereignty would meet with 
 * numberlefs oppofitions, and that a. vidory 
 " could not be without fliedding much blood, 
 ** and at the expence of their violating the 
 " facred engagements before entered into by 
 " them." When the force and effect of thefe 
 declarations are confidered, it will reft with Mr. 
 Haftings to fatisfy the Company that his plan, 
 ftated in the inftructions to Mr. Elliott, and in 
 which he has embarked fo deeply, was not built 
 without a foundation. 
 
 Mr. Weatherftone fays, that " the firft wilh 
 " of that court flems now to fet afide our con- 
 " nectionwithRagoba; the fupporting of whom, 
 5* the Dewan faid, he was convinced was highly 
 
 " unpolitical*
 
 [ 40 ] 
 
 " unpolitical, and would in the end be fully 
 " proved fo ; that that Chief was held in univer- 
 *' fal abhorrence, and that the prejudices in the 
 " Decan againfl him would not eafily, if ever, 
 " be removed." 
 
 The remainder of Mr. Weatherftone's letters 
 will be found to contain many particulars that 
 deferve the attention of the Court of.Directors ; 
 cfpecially a clear explanation of the views, prin- 
 ciples, and policy of the Court of Nagpour, 
 of all which the Governor General does not ap- 
 pear to have had any precife information, or 
 any accurate idea. He concludes with faying, 
 " that the Rajah and Dewan exprefled a ftrong 
 " defire that the detachment might not move 
 " forward towards Poona, but remain in the 
 " neighbourhood of Berar," and in the mean 
 time be employed in conquering fome adjacent 
 diftricts for the Rajah's benefit. All the pre- 
 ceding letters were read in Council on the ift of 
 February, 1779, when the Governor faid, that 
 he had not had time to prepare the propofi- 
 tions which he intended to lay before the Board. 
 His intentions, whatever they may be, have 
 not yet tranfpired ; but no orders from hence 
 can now affect the motions of the detachment. 
 Suppofing Colonel Goddard to have marched on 
 the 1 2th of January, he ought to be at Poona 
 before any letters written at this time can reach 
 him. This Government have no other know- 
 ledge
 
 ledge of the difficulties and oppofitioh he is 
 likely to meet with, than what may be collefte'd 
 from Moodajee Boofla's letters. The Board is 
 equally uninformed of the actual ftrength and 
 condition of his army. On thefe points the Go- 
 vernor General obferves a profound filence. Ic 
 may be concluded, however, from the refolu- 
 tion to fend two battalions, with a draft of 700 
 recruits to reinforce Colonel Goddard, that his 
 army muft have fuffered confiderably by fick- 
 ne-fs or defertion. It is known that Captain 
 Wray's regiment of cavalry was totally ruined, 
 and that he and feveral other officers had obtain- 
 ed leave, under one pretence or other, to return 
 to Bengal. Col. Goddard's public orders of the 
 ift of November, accidentally produced at the 
 Board of Ordnance by Colonel Pearfe, begin 
 with declaring, thac " the unmilitary and unex- 
 " ampled fpirit of diiaffection to the fervice, 
 *' which had fo manifeftly difplayed itfelf in 
 " the frequent defertions from the corps of ca- 
 " valry and infantry, within a few days, was 
 " become a matter of the moft fericus and im- 
 " portant confidcration." There can be no 
 doubt but his numbers muft be greatly reduced; 
 nor is there any chance of his being joined by 
 the reinforcement under Major Camac. When 
 the detachment was ordered, it was fuppoied 
 that a junction might be effected fomewhere in 
 Berar. Colonel Goddard is now on his way to 
 Poonaj but whether Major Camac is to fol- 
 G low
 
 [ 4* J 
 
 low him or not, is a point yet unknown to the 
 Board. 
 
 On the 79th of December, the fuccefs of the 
 enterprize again-il Poona wa& ftil-1 undeter- 
 mined. 
 
 February 4thj 1779. The Governor General 
 lays -ms propofitions before the Board, for new 
 inftruclions to- Colonel Goddard, and for refo- 
 lutions on the late advices from Bombay. The 
 form in which thefc voluminous papers ape 
 drawn up feems more than commonly loofe, 
 confufed, and intricate. Whether they were in- 
 tended to be fo, or whether they were haftily 
 thrown together, without any fort of confidera- 
 tion or advice, may be doubted. Mr. Haftings's 
 .firft general object is to heap as much cenfure 
 -as poffible on the Prefidency of Bombay, as well 
 for what they have themfelves done, as for the 
 obftacles which, he fays, they have thrown m 
 .the way of his negociations with Moodajce 
 Boofla; his fecond purpofe plainly appears to 
 be, to break the treaty they have concluded 
 with Ragoba, though certainly warranted, as fee 
 himfelf confeffes, by our letter to them of the 
 1 7th of Auguft, 1778; and to revert, if pof- 
 fible, to his favourite alliance with the Rajah 
 of Berar. To accomplifli this defign, he pro? 
 pofes that Colonel Goddard (whofe march to 
 Poona he approves, though ftrictly not jufti- 
 fiable under the lafl. orders of the Board of the
 
 C 43 ] 
 
 23d of November) fhall continue to hold his 
 command, independent of the Government of 
 Bombay ; that he may demand reinforcements 
 from that Prcfidency, which he was fent origi- 
 nally to reinforce, but thefe not to be com- 
 manded by any officer of a rank iuperior to his 
 own i that he fhall be appointed the Minifter 
 of this government at the court of Poona, in- 
 dependent of the Prefidency of Bombay , that 
 he fhall demand of Ragoba a reimburlement of 
 the expenccs of the expedition, at two lacks a 
 month from the ift of June 1778, in addition 
 to the furn of two lacks and a half, ilipuiated 
 by the treaty in full, for the expences of the 
 Bombay army *, that, in cafe of a refufal, he 
 fliall either return to Berar, or retire to the 
 lands ceded to the Company, which it feems are 
 to be kept, notwithstanding the treaty is to be 
 annulled; that the Prefidency of Bombay fhall 
 be peremptorily required and commanded, in 
 fuch cale, to recall their troops from Poona, 
 2nd from the Marhatta dominions ; that the in- 
 flrucYions already given to Colonel Goddard 
 do remain in full force, and that he be directed 
 to refume the negociations with the Govern- 
 ment of Bcrrar, and to treat with it on the 
 grounds of thefe inftrudtions, whenever an oc- 
 cafion fhall offer to execute them confidently 
 with the foregoing refolutions. 
 
 G 2 8th
 
 [ 44 ] 
 
 8th February, 1779. Mr. Wheler and Mr. 
 Francis deliver their opinion at large, on the 
 Governor's Propofitions ; the Court of Direc- 
 tors will judge whether any thing advanced in 
 fupport of them, either as fact or argument, 
 remains unrefuted ; the minutes will not admit 
 of being abftracted, but it may be fufficient 
 to ftate the general principles on which the 
 propofitions are oppofed. 
 
 I. It is taken as a point admitted in the 
 Governor's own terms, that the treaty with Ra- 
 goba is warranted by our inflections ; that it 
 has received the firmeft and fulled ratification 
 that could be given to it by the contracting 
 parties ; and that it therefore can not admit 
 either of amendment or addition. 
 
 II. It is contended that the additional de- 
 mand, to be made by Colonel Goddard, is un- 
 juft, and can never be admitted by Ragoba; 
 and that, even were it granted, it would not 
 amount to a reimburfement of our actual 
 expence. 
 
 III. That the conditional order prefcribed to 
 Colonel Goddard, and to the Prefidency of 
 Bombay, in cafe of a refufal, are equivalent 
 to a formal renunciation of the treaty. 
 
 IV. That the independent command, pre- 
 tended to be yetted in Cplonel Goddardj while 
 
 he
 
 [ 45 1 
 
 he co-operates with the Prefidency of Bcnbay, 
 and acts on the fame grounds with thcinrniy, 
 is highly dangerous in itfelf, and can no take 
 effect without fu averting the fundamenta prin- 
 ciples of military difcipline and fubordinaon. 
 
 V. That a junction of the two detachients, 
 which thefe inftructions pofitively prelude, 
 may, in fome cafes, be efiential to their nutual 
 fafety -, and in many cafes neceflary to th fuc- 
 cefs of their operations. 
 
 VI. That the vefting Colonel Goddarc with 
 feparate powers, from this government tc treat 
 with the Court of Poona, independent f the 
 Prefidency of Bombay, tends to reduc the 
 credit and influence of that Prefidency, br no 
 adequate or avowed object ; and that it lands 
 in direct contradiction to the Company's eiprefs 
 orders, given on occafion of the feparate p>wers 
 delegated to Colonel Upton *. 
 
 VII. That an attempt to renew the negocia- 
 tion with Moodajee Boofla, befides all former 
 objections to the meafure, is not warranted by 
 the experience the Board have had of his cha- 
 racter and difpofition, or by the treatment al- 
 ready received from him ; nor can it be recon- 
 ciled to the late treaty with Ragoba. 
 
 * Vide General Letter yth February, 1777, Paragr. 21, 
 22, 23, 24. 
 
 In
 
 In te face of thefe, and many other argu- 
 mentsthe prcpofitions were voted by Mr. Bar- 
 well ad Mr, Haftings, without reply. 
 
 9thr ebruary. The Governor's letter of this 
 
 date ti Moodajee BooQa contains fome remark- 
 
 able pffages. He laments, rather than com- 
 
 plainsjof the diftruft entertained by that Chief; 
 
 and "peclares that, had he accepted of the terms 
 
 " ofFeed him by Colonel Goddard, and con- 
 
 " clued a treaty with this government- upon 
 
 " then, he mould have held the obligation of 
 
 * c it fiperior to that of any engagement formed 
 
 '* by :he Government of Bombay ; and mould 
 
 6t ha\e thought it his duty to maintain it, &c. 
 
 " aganft every confideration, even of the moft 
 
 " uaUaUe interefts and fafety of the Englijh pof- 
 
 * 4 ft/frxs intrujted to his charge" At the fame 
 
 time, however, he reminds him, " That the 
 
 '* original intention of fending an Englifh army 
 
 " from this to the Weftern fide of India, was 
 
 " to affift the Government of Bombay in the 
 
 " accomplilhmcnt of a plan concerted with 
 
 " the aclual rulers of the Marhatta State." 
 
 He concludes with profefllng, that his difpofi- 
 
 tion and wifhes remain the fame ; that nothing 
 
 is yet loft snd that he wifhes to be guided by 
 
 Moodajee Boofla's inclinations. 
 
 In the Governor's minute, recorded the 
 of February, and Mr. Francis's, recorded the 
 
 '4' 2d
 
 t 47 3 
 
 2tl of March, the general fubject of the nego- 
 ciations with Ragoba and Moodajee Boofla, 
 and the march of the two armies, is thoroughly 
 difcufled ; and fuch lights thrown upon the 
 whole tranfaction, as leave no doubt concerning 
 the true motives of the perfons engaged in it. 
 
 25th February, 1779. The Governor lays 
 before the Board a paper received the day be- 
 fore from Madras, containing intelligence of 
 the defeat of the Bombay army near Poona ; 
 which he fays, he believes to be but too true - 9 
 but does not think proper to propofe any im- 
 mediate meafures to be taken in confequence. 
 
 Mr. Francis, finding no propofmon made by 
 the Governor, moves that Orders be fent to 
 General Stibberr, to put him on his guard, and 
 to hold the troops ftationed in Rohilcund, and 
 in Owde, in readinefs to march. The motion 
 was oppofcd both by Mr. Barwell and the Go- 
 vernor, as unneceffary and unreafonabk ; and tlis 
 Governor laid, he wiflied it had not been made > 
 yet in the end, it was agreed to r with ar* amend- 
 ment propofed by Barwell, which carried the 
 principle of the motion much farther than Mr, 
 Francis intended, viz. " That the two brigades 
 " mould be immediately aiTemblcd and en- 
 " camped." 
 
 Mr.
 
 Mr. Francis ftated the evident contradiction 
 contained in the arguments ufed by the Ma- 
 jority, and oppofed the amendment. 
 
 ift March, 1779. Letters of the 7th of Fe- 
 bruary from Fort St. George, and of the 26th 
 of January from Colonel Goddard, were read 
 at the Board ; the former was figned by Sir 
 Eyre Coote, and itates in ftrong terms the 
 fatal confeqnences likely to attend the difafter 
 at Poona, particularly to that government. 
 They obferve, that " by one ill-timed and un- 
 " fortunate enterprize the reputation of our 
 " arms is fullied, and the friendfhip of the 
 " principal Indian flates hazarded, or loft for 
 " ever ; and that too at a period when we are 
 " engaged in a war which calls for the exer- 
 " tion of all .our force, and the good-will of 
 " every ftate in alliance with us." In the con- 
 clufion, they recommended to the Board to 
 direct Colonel Goddard's retreat through Berar, 
 towards the coaft of Orixa, and the Northern 
 Circars. 
 
 By Colonel Goddard's letter it appears, that 
 he was uninformed of the event at Poona ; he 
 incloies a letter of the nth of January from 
 General Carnac and Colonel Egerton, in which 
 they advife him to proceed either to Broach or 
 Surat, or to remain on the borders of Berar ; 
 but do not defire him to advance towards 
 
 Poona.
 
 [ 4 9 ] 
 
 Poona. He himfelf is of opinion, " That a 
 " profpcct cf being able to effect the revolution 
 " in favour of Ragoba themfclves, is their mo- 
 " tive for expreffing fo little anxiety about the 
 " arrival cf tiie detachment." 
 
 The Governor, without propofing any in- 
 ftruclion for Colonel Godciard, moved that Ge- 
 neral Stibbert mould be ordered to fend the firft 
 brigade acrofs the Jumna, and to encamp it on 
 the other fide. Mr. Francis expreffed, at once, 
 his -fenie of the meafure ; but aefircd that the 
 further confideration of it might be put off till 
 the next morning : This was agreed to by the 
 Governor, on condition that he might be al- 
 lowed an opportunity of confidering Mr. Fran- 
 cis's objections to the motion, before they were 
 brought into debate at the Board. Mr. Wheler 
 and Mr. Francis, concurring in opinion, drew 
 up their reafons in the form of a joint proteft, 
 which they fent next morning to the Governor, 
 about an hour before the Council met. 
 
 2d March, 1779. The Governor began by 
 declaring, that he had not read the joint pro- 
 teft , and delivered in a minute, . retracting that 
 of.yefterday. The minutes on both fidts de- 
 ferve attention, but cannot eafily be abftracted. 
 
 When the bufi tiffs was over, Mr. Francis, 
 
 finding that no infirucTions were intended for 
 
 Colonel Goddard, moved that orders fhouid be 
 
 H fcnt
 
 [ 50 ] 
 
 fent him immediately to retire to Berar, and 
 from thence towards the coaft of Orixa, and the 
 Chicacole Sarcar,fuppofing always that he (hould 
 not have reached the other fide of India before he 
 received thefe orders : The motion, it was agreed, 
 Ihould lie for ccnfideration. 
 
 4th March, 1779. The debate of this day, 
 in confequence of which Mr. Francis's propo- 
 fition was rejected by the majority, will be 
 found to throw confiderable light upon the 
 political views and principles of Mr. Ha- 
 flings. He objects to the motion for two rea- 
 fons : i ft, Becaufe he thinks it probable that 
 Colonel Goddard has refumed his negotiation 
 with Moodajee Boofla : adly, Becaufe the pro- 
 pofed route lay through the dominions of the 
 Kizam ; " who, it is not to be expected would 
 " confent to their paflage i nor is this a time 
 " to furnim him with a pretext for open ho- 
 " ftilities againft the Government." Yet the 
 negociations which Colonel Goddard is fup- 
 pofed to have refumed, and which Mr. Haftings 
 thinks it unfafe to interrupt, have the invafion 
 of the Nizam's dominions for one of. its prin- 
 cipal objects, 
 
 In the remainder of the Governor's minute, 
 the Court of Directors will fee, that conquefl 
 and extenfion of dominion are now his pro- 
 fefTed and avowed objects ; and ihat Mr. Fran- 
 cis, in endeavouring to confine the Company's 
 
 armies
 
 armies within their adual pofleflion-s, is fuppofed 
 to prefcribe narrow limits to this Government. 
 The minute recorded by Mr. Francis on the 
 8th of Murch contains every thing that ap- 
 peared to him neceflary for the general defence 
 of his motion, or to refute the general doctrines 
 advanced and maintained by Mr. Raftings. 
 
 Mr. Francis concluding, from fome words 
 which fell from the Governor in reply to the 
 firft motion, that his principal objection lay a- 
 ga-inft moving the detachment towards the 
 Chicacole Sarcar, and wilhing at all events to 
 withdraw the detachment from a fituation of 
 danger into the country of a friend, moved 
 again that Colonel Goddard might be ordered 
 to retreat into Berar. This propofuion, how- 
 ever, met with the fame fate with the pre- 
 ceding; but whether the arguments, ufed a- 
 gainft the fecond motion can be reconciled to 
 thofe which were employed againft the firft, 
 deferves confideration. In this place, however, 
 it is material to be obferved, that, fuppofing 
 any future turn of events mould, in the eyes 
 of thofe who judge only by events, render it a 
 fortunate circumftance that Colonel Goddard 
 fhould have proceeded to Surat, Mr. Haftings 
 will have no merit to claim from that meafure, 
 or from any advantageous confequences which 
 H 2 may
 
 [ 52 ] 
 
 may attend it. In this * day's debate, he ex- 
 prefsly fays, "That he wifhes equally with Mr. 
 " Francis, for the return of the detachment to 
 '" Berar, and equally dreads to hear of its pro- 
 " ceeding to the other coaft." 
 
 In the fame debate he obferved that the plan 
 for reltoring Ragoba to the adminiftration of the 
 Government at Poona had failed, and that Co- 
 lonel Goddard therefore, from the inftant he re- 
 ceived certain advice of that conclufion, was 
 under exprefs orders to recur to his negociations 
 with Moodajee Boofla, which necefiarily and 
 unavoidably implied his return to Berar. It 
 will hereafter appear that Colonel Goddard re- 
 ceived thanks and rewards for taking that very 
 Hep, which, according to Mr. Haftings's pre- 
 fent declaration, muft be contrary to the exprefs 
 Orders of the Board. Admitting that Colonel 
 Goddard was juftified by the neceffity of his 
 fituation, in proceeding by forced marches to 
 Surat, as foon as he had heard of the defeat 
 near Poona, Mr. Haftings clearly has no mare 
 in the merit of that refolution, or in any good 
 confequerices that might have attended it, fince, 
 according to his exprefs orders, Colonel God- 
 dard ought to have returned to Berar. 
 
 March loth, 1 779. J Letter received from 
 Col. Goddard, dated the 5th of February, from 
 
 * 4th March, 1779. 
 
 t Extract ppon Confutations nth March. 
 
 Brampour i
 
 [ 53 ] 
 
 Brampour ; in which he fays, he was determined 
 to move next day towards Surat, according to 
 orders he had received from the Seleft Com- 
 mittee at Bombay , who, on the 22d of January, 
 tell him, they are not able to give him any pre- 
 cife information as to the reafons of the return 
 of their army, or the probable confequences 
 of it. 
 
 Colonel Goddard arrived at Surat about the 
 26th of February , having not feen an enemy, 
 nor met with any oppofition whatever, in his 
 march from Brampour. In his laft letter, dated 
 at Surat, on the 28th of October, 1779, he in- 
 forms the Board, that the Minifter of the Pei- 
 ihaw had, in plain and direct terms, declared 
 to him, in the name of his Matter, that he would 
 not accede to the propofals he (Colonel God- 
 dard) had made him, or conclude peace with 
 the Englifh, unlefs Ragoba was delivered up 
 to him, and Salfette reftored to the Marhatta 
 Government. 
 
 In confequence of this declaration, Co- 
 lonel Goddard had broken off the negociation, 
 and propofed fetting out for Bombay imme- 
 diately, to concert the plan of future opera- 
 tions with the Select Committee there. 
 
 That Committee, in their letter of the 31(1 
 of October, 1779, inform the Governor Gene- 
 
 neral,
 
 [ 54 ] 
 
 neral, and Council, that they had ftrongly re- 
 commended to General Goddard not to preci- 
 pitate matters, but to endeavour to gain time, 
 and defer any declaration until they were in 
 a better condition for an active war. 
 
 FINIS.

 
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